silfversparre



(NG Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 1 A. SILPVERSPARRE. BREEGH MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE.

No. 542,379. 79 Patented July 9, 1895.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A.. SILFVERSPARRB.

BREEGH MBGHANISM FOR ORDNANCB.

No. 542,379. Patented July 9, 1895.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. SILPVERSPARRB. BREBCH MEGHANISM FOR ORDNANGE.

Patented July 9, 1895.

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A. SILI'VIELRSPABREs BRBEGH MEGHANISM PoR ORDNANGE.

(No Model.)

v:.-m-m-lm-.rlrxn I 2 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

, A. SILFVERS'PARRE.

BREEGH MEGHANISM FOR GRDNANCB.

No. 542,379. Patented July 9, 1895.

,Ni-TED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARENT SILFVERSPARRE, OF BOFORS, SWEDEN.

.-BREECH IVIECHANISIVI FOR ORDNANCE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,379, dated July 9, 1895.

Application lel SeptemberlZ, 1894. Serial No. 522,855. (No model.) Patentedin Sweden December 3, 1892, No.4,592; in Nor- Way December 3, `1892, No. 2,960; in England January 6, 1893, No. 328, and in France January 11,1893.No. 227,078.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, ARENT SILFVERSPARRE, engineer, a subject of the King of Sweden and Norway, and a resident of Bofors, county of Wermland, Sweden, have invented an lmproved Breech-Loading Mechanism for Guns, (for which I have obtained a Swedish patent, No. 4,592, dated December 3, 1892; a Norwegian patent, No. 2,960, dated December 8, 1892; a French patent, No. 227,078, dated January 11, 1893, and an English patent, No. 328, dated January 6, 1893,) of which the following isa specification.

The gun comprises arotary locking breechblock, a pivoted carrier therefor, a tiring mechanism,and a laterally-movable bar controlling the locking of the rotary breech-block and the cooking of the firing mechanism. It includes, also, a firing-pin adapted to lock the said laterally-movable bar when lthe arm is tired and prevent its movement until the recoil of the firing-pin due to the explosive releasing it, or until it is released by hand.

On the annexed drawings the mechanism is shown applied to a gun.

Figure 1 is a rear view of the mechanism closed. Fig. 2 is a section along A B, Fig. 1. Fig. 2a is a detail sectional view through the axis of the swinging carrier. Fig. 2b is a detail view of the rack-bar and adjacent parts. Fig. 2c is a side View of the breech-bolt; Fig.` 3, a section along C D, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4, a section along C D, Fig. 1, with the mechanism partly open. Fig. 4a is a detail view of part of the rotary breech-block, showing the recess therein to be engaged by the safety-block. Figs. 5 and 6 represent the extracting mechanism in section and elevation. d

rlhe breech-screw 1 is of an ogival shape, the generatrix of its curved surface beinga circle with its center located on the axis of rotation of the carrier 2. is threaded or provided with threaded sectors, as at 1X, Figs. 2b and 2, from one end to the other, and its rear rim 1a is screwed into the ring-shaped portion 2a of the carrier 2, that is hinged on a pin 17 at the back end of the gun. On this pin there are located two toothed wheels or segments 3 and '19, Figs. 1, an 2a, the former being loose on the pin but portion of the breech-screw l.

The breech-screwv connected to the carrier to swing therewith, as will be described hereinafter, and the latter rigidly attached to the pin and movable independent ofthe carrier. At one end the pin has attached to it a lever 18 with a handle. This lever is grasped by a catch 21, which turns ou a pin situated on the body of the gun and provided with a counterweight 36. The tail at the front end of the catch is acted upon by a spring device 22, and a similar device 23 is arranged infront of the rear end of the catch, so that thelever 18 can be locked between thelatter spring device and the catch. In the carrier 2 there is arranged a slide 4, on the front side of which is a rack 33 engaging with the toothed wheel 19, by the turning of which the slide is drawn out through the edge of the carrier. The inner end of the slide'ernbraces the back end of the central This central portion is shaped as a toothed segment 31, Figs. 1, 2, and 2b, engaging with corresponding teeth 32 on the inside of the slide.

At the inner end of the slide asafety-block 3l is arranged, engaging with a recess in thel back of the breech-screw and locking the latter in its position until the slide is drawn out. On the back of the slide there are also two wedge-shaped ridges 24, Figs. 3, 4, and 2b, situated on each side of the ring-pin 5, which is concentric to the axis of the breech-screw and is acted upon in the usual manner by a surrounding mainspring 6.

Behind the ridges 24 of the slide the tiringpin 5 is provided with two projections 25,

which at the outward movement of the slide d are pushed back by the ridges, thus cooking the gun behind the projections. The firingpin has a notch 27, forming a part of the firing mechanism. As usual the latter consists vof a trigger 1l, made in the shape of a bellrco and adapted to t into a corresponding recess 30 in the flanges 29 at the back of the slide Il, Fig. 2.

In the part of the carrier 2 which adjoins the back end of the gun there isfinserted a latch 13, that is pushed forward by a spring 14 and is pressed forward so that its lug 13a enters a corresponding recess 20, Figs. 1, 2, and 2b, at the back of the breech-screw as soon as the latter, while the mechanism is being opened, has been revolved and begins to be drawn out of the gun by the swinging of the carrier, the notch 2O now being opposite the catch-lug 13% Vhen the mechanism is closed, Fig. 2, the

latch is kept back by forward arm 13b of thecatch abutting the rear end of the gun at x. ln the circumference of the breech-screw there is also a longitudinal groove 1G and in the part of the gun surrounding` the breechscrew there is a projecting guidelug 15, which as soon as the breech-screw has been revolved into a certain position enters the groove and serves as a guide for the breech-screw while it is being drawn out.

The'extractor 10, Figs. 5 and 6, is composed of an arm situated at the side of the breechscrew and at the front end provided in the usual manner with a jaw intended to grasp the rim of the cartridgecase. At the back of the arm there are arranged teeth engaging the toothed wheel 3 on the pin 17 in such a manner that the extractor is pulled out, together with the cartridge-case, at the revolutionl of the toothed wheel 3. rlhe toothed wheel is connected to the carrier to move therewith by the clutch 37 38, hereinafter described, Fig. 2a.

The mechanism operates as follows: `lVl1en the shot has been fired the' gun recoils, causing the catch 21 to swing on its pin, owing to the inertia of the counterweight. The lever A18 thereby is released Afrom the catch and forced outward by the spring 23; which prevents the latter from grasping the lever again. lf the lever is then pushed back the pin 17 will revolve, together with the gear 19, which by means of the rack 33 draws out the slide 4,thus removing the safety-block 3l carm ried by the slide from the corresponding recess SALX in the back of the breech-screw 1. (See Fig. 4a.) On the continued motion of theslide the teeth 32 engage the toothed segment 31 of the breech-screw, which is thereby revolved about its axis until the guide-lug .15 strikes against the bottom of the groove 16, the breech-screw being then unscrewed from the corresponding threads in the back part of the gun. Duringthe motion of the slide the wedge-shaped ridges 24 slip in front of the lugs 25 of the firing-pin 5, causing the latter to be pulled back and allowing the catch 26 on the bar 7 to engage with the notch 27 in the tiring-pin, which now remains cocked. By further rotating the pin 17 by means ofthe lever 18 the carrier 2 is turned about the axis ofthe pin 17, at the same time swinging the breech screw, which is thus pulled out from the surrounding cavity in the back ofthegun. The breech-screw is guidedin its motion by the lug 15, fitting into the groove 16, and simultaneously it is held firmly in place to the carrier by the lug 13a of the latch 13, which, as soon as the breech-screw begins to recede from the gun, is pressed into the recess 2O by the action of the spring 14. The recess is so located that it will stop directly in front of this latch when the breech-screw has completed its rotation about the axis of the gun. At the movement of the carrier 2, the gear3 connected thereto by the clutch 37 38 also is revolved, thus pulling out the extractorlO and the cartridge-case, whose flange is grasped by the jaw-shaped end of the extractor.

When the cartri lge-case has been subsequently removed by hand,'a new cartridge is inserted, the lever 18being then turned back into its original position, causing the carrier to approach the back end of the gun. As the breech-screw enters the latter, the lng 13LL of the latch 13 is pushed out of its recess by the arm 13b contacting with the breech, and releasing' the breech screw when it has advanced sut'ciently far into the cavity and the guide-lug 15 has reached the upper portion of the groove 1G. During the continuedl rotation of thelever 18 the teeth 32 will engage the toothed segment 3l, turning the breechscrew 1 and causing it to be screwed into the gun, while at the same time the wedgeshaped ridges 2l of the slide are pushed away from the corresponding lugs 25 of the firingpin 5, which accordingly is free to move forward when the trigger is pulled. At the com pletion of the movement of the lever 18 the block 34: of the slide engages with the corresponding recess in the breech-screw. The slide then has been pushed in so far that the recess 30 will come just in front of the extremity of the arm 28 of the trigger 11, and consequently the trigger can be moved and the shot tired, which up to this instant has been impossible owing to the fact that the arm 28 of the trigger' has been locked by the flange 29 at'the back of the slide. As soon as the lever 18 has arrived at its foremost position, the catch 21 again clasps around it and retains it in its position until the shot is fired.

In case the gun should fail to go off or should hang fire, no recoil will take place and it will -be impossible to open the mechanism until the lever 18 has been released by hand from the catch 21. The toothed wheel 3 of the ing put into action.

IOO

37 with a hub 37X of polygonal section may be employed, which is slipped over the end ofthe pin 17 and inserted into a corresponding angular opening in the carrier 2, Figs. I and 2a, the polygonal part of the clutch passing through the arms 2X of the carrier while the jaws 38 of the clutch engage corresponding recesses in the gear 3 and compel the latter to take part in the rotary motion of the carrier. On the other hand, when the clutch is disengaged from the gear the carrier may be turned Without the gear participating in its motion, and consequently the extractor mechanism will remain inactive.

To prevent accidents when the gun hangs tire, the lever 18 and catch 2l may be replaced by notches in the wedge-shaped ridges 24, so as to cause the lugs 25 of the firing-pin 5 to engage into these notches when the gun is fired oft. In this case the face of the breechscrew l should be given such a shape with reference to the base of the cartridge-case,

ligs. 3 and 4, that it will touch the latter at the outer edge only, in order that the central portion ot' the base of the cartridge-case may have a chance to move back under the.infiu ence of the pressure generated by the powdergases. The tiring-pin 5 will then be pushed back by the base of the cartridge and the lugs 25 will recede from the notches 50, thus releasing the slide 4 and making it possible to open the breech-loading mechanism. On the other hand, it the gun fails to go olif the base of the cartridge does not recede, and consequently the lugs 25 of the tiring-pin will remain in the notches 50, causing the slide 4 to remain locked until the tiring-pin is pulled back by hand. The base ofthe cartridge may either be concave, in which event the face of the breech-screw is made dat or concave, or the base may betlat, the face of the breechscrew then being made concave.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,

Y I declare that what I claim isconnection to the tiring pin for operating it, said sliding bar also operating the breech block lock and meansfor operating the sliding bar substantially as described.

2. In combination in a gun,the rotary breech block having the locking screw threads, the segment on the block, the sliding rack engaging the segment, means for operating the rack, the tiring pin having lugs, the wedges carried by the sliding rack to engage the lugs, and cooking mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a gun,the rotary breech block having the locking screw threads, the segment on the block, the rack bar engaging therewith, Ithe means for operating the rack bar, the firing pin having lugs, the wedges on the rack bar engaging the same, the said tiring pin having also the notch 27, and the catch 26 movable to engage the notch of the firing pin and means for controlling the catch, substantially as described.

4. In combination in agun the rotary breech block, the segment thereon, the rack bar engaging the segment, the firing pin having the lugs, the wedges on the rack lbar engaging the same, the. catch for holding the firing pin cocked, the trigger for releasing the catch, the ange 29 on the rack bar arranged to engage and lock the trigger when the mechanism is open and having a recess to release the trigger when the mechanism is closed, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a gun, the rotary breech block of ogival form, the carrier for said breech block and means for rotating the block, the axis of said carrier being the center from which the-curve ot the ogival block is struck.

6. In combination, the breech block, the carrier therefor, the sliding bar arranged to unlock the breech block, means for operatin g the sliding bar, the notches therein and the firing pin having spurs to enter the notches of the said sliding bar, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

ARENT SILFVERSPARRE.

WVitnesse-S:

JOHN EDBERG, H. TCLANDER. 

